Cream Cheese Frosting

This is my all time FAVORITE Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe! Just 5 ingredients!This recipe will cover either one 2-layer 8" or 9" cake, 24 cupcakes, or generously frost (as much frosting as in the photos) 12 cupcakes.Please see note regarding thickness

Prep time: PT10M

Total time: PT10M

Rating

4.95 stars (1905 reviews)

Keywords

cream cheese frosting, easy frosting recipe

Ingredients

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter (softened (113g))
8 oz cream cheese (softened (brick-style, not spreadable) (226g))
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt
4 cups powdered sugar* ((500g))

Cuisine

American

Steps

Combine butter and cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer (or you may use an electric mixer) and beat until creamy, well-combined, and lump-free.
Add vanilla extract and salt and stir well to combine.
With mixer on low, gradually add powdered sugar until completely combined.
Use to frost completely cooled cake or cupcakes.

Nutitrion

Serving Size: 1 /24 batch
Calories: 146 kcal
Carbohydrates: 20 g
Protein: 1 g
Fat: 7 g
Saturated Fat: 4 g
Trans Fat: 1 g
Cholesterol: 21 mg
Sodium: 56 mg
Sugar: 20 g

Reviews

Kari on 2025-08-15 (5 stars):
I've made this recipe twice, and the consistency is sooo smooth! I've never made a frosting that's come out this well. The first time I made it with low fat cream cheese (I have Gastroparesis, and I have to eat a low fat diet.). To offset the extra water in the cream cheese I added 4 teaspoons of cornstarch, and let it set up in the fridge for an hour. It came out great, nobody could tell it was lower fat. The 2nd time I made it I used Green Valley Lactose Free Cream Cheese, which is in a tub, so I added the extra cornstarch again. Came out so smooth and velvety. This is my fave cream cheese frosting recipe!
Erin James on 2025-08-12 (5 stars):
I made this frosting for some red velvet mini cakes and it turned out AMAZING!!!! It's the perfect consistency and the taste is fantastic! Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Rochell Keyser on 2025-08-09 (4 stars):
I am only giving this 4 stars and not 5 because i didn't make it exactly as the recipe states. My husband and i are on a mission to reduce our sugar intake .. so i tried this using 125 grams of powdered sugar. The result was wonderful in terms of taste !! 5 star. I quite liked the consistency too, it wasn't runny.. but it is winter here in South Africa and our homes don't have central heating so perhaps the climate is impacting the consistency. I thought i would share for anyone else who might be on a similar mission to reduce sugar. I did not pipe with it ..i iced a sheet cake so it was perfect for that use.
Laura Hixson on 2025-08-05 (5 stars):
Absolutely perfect & great consistency